The Institute of the Arts Barcelona presents the first 3rd year Musical Theatre show, A Musical within a Comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone, Music and Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, and Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. The IAB Production is directed by Luke Fredericks, musically directed by Alex Weatherhill and choreographed by Robert Foley.

Synopsis:The plot of the show-within-a-show centres on Miss Janet Van De Graaff, a showgirl who plans to give up her fabulous career in order to marry an oil tycoon, Mr Robert Martin. However, the Feldzieg’s Follies star Janet has a lot of money riding on her name to sell the show; and Feldzieg, her producer, is being threatened by two ‘Pastry Chef’ gangsters employed by her chief investor to put a stop to the wedding or else….

In order to save herself, Feldzieg employs Aldolpho, a bumbling Latin Lothario, in hope to seduce Janet and stop her marrying Robert. Meanwhile Janet is having major doubts about marrying Robert after tricking him into kissing her disguised as Mimi the French girl, and a massive misunderstanding emerges putting the wedding on a hold.

That’s when all starts to get a little crazy and the plot is filled with mistaken identities, dream sequences, big dance numbers, spit takes and of course the incredibly graceful yet drunk Drowsy Chaperone upstaging near about everyone on stage.

Watching from the comfort of her own room the woman in chair brings the audience in and out of reality commentating on the show appearing in front of her. As the show goes on, more and more of her personal life is revealed, until, as the record ends, she is left again alone in her apartment — but still with her imagination of her long-beloved record of the show to turn to whenever she’s feeling a little blue.

Quotes:

Alex Weatherhill says a few words about musically directing Drowsy Chaperone:“Working with new people is always exciting and challenging and my projects with the students of IAB have been just that. The journey with them has been great fun and they consistently work hard to bring their best and beyond.”

Robert Foley talks about his vision of the show as the choreographer:“I have really enjoyed working with cast investigating their characters to find authentic and original movements for them to hit the stage with. I think the choreography is fun and exciting and really brings life to this show.”

Courtney Griffiths, a member of ensemble says“I honestly couldn’t be more proud of my fellow cast members and even though I won’t get the chance to perform on stage with them due to injury; I will be sat front row supporting them all the way for every show. We have all worked so incredibly hard on this show, including awesome creative team and they all deserve their time to shine. So let’s go team and show everyone who IAB is! ”

Lisa LambertLisa Lambert is an actress, comedy writer and Tony Award-winning composer, best known for writing the lyrics and music to The Drowsy Chaperone.Lambert plyed in the movies Childstar and Slings and Arrows. Her works for television include Getting Along Famously and Skippy’s Rangers- The Show They Never Gave.

Lambert also took part in stage productions, including Mirth, People Park, The Irish Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Bargain Musical, All Hams on Deck, Ouch My Toe, An American in Harris, An Awkward Evening with Martin and Johnson.Lambert won the Tony Award for Best Original Score, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for The Drowsy Chaperone.

Greg MorrisonGreg Morrison (born 1965) is a Tony Award–winning and Drama Desk Award–winning Canadian writer and composer best known for his work on the music and lyrics of The Drowsy Chaperone, which he wrote with Lisa Lambert.[1] He also has extensive credits for directing and musical directing shows across the United States and Canada.[2] He is a recipient of a Canadian Comedy Award and a Sterling Award for Original Composition.

Morrison’s affiliation with The Drowsy Chaperone started in 1999 when Don McKellar and Lisa Lambert created a spoof of old musicals for the stag party before the wedding of their theatre friends Bob Martin and Janet Van De Graaff.

Bob MartinBob Martin is a writer, actor, and comedian from Toronto, Ontario, Canada born in England in 1962. He has both performed in and written many TV shows. Martin began his career with The Second City in Toronto in 1996.

He starred in the Broadway musical The Drowsy Chaperone as the “Man in Chair”. He also collaborated with Don McKellar on the book. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance as Man in Chair which he lost to John Lloyd Young for Jersey Boys, and shared the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical with Don McKellar.[1] After reprising his role as the Man in Chair in London’s West End production of The Drowsy Chaperone, for which he received an Olivier nomination, he starred in the show’s North American tour for its first stop in Toronto until October 14, 2007. He was “reliniquishing his chair” to stay in Toronto with his wife and newborn son.

Martin wrote the book for the musical Minsky’s, which premiered at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles in 2009.

He is currently adapting the classic film The Sting for Broadway.

Martin has been involved in the award-winning series Slings & Arrows (TMN/Sundance), a TV show about a Canadian theatre company struggling to survive while a crazy genius director haunted by his dead mentor helps the actors find authenticity in their acting. As one of the creators, Martin also serves as a writer (alongside fellow writers Susan Coyne and Mark McKinney) and a creative producer.[7]

He is also a writer of and star in the Canadian television sitcom Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays, which had its debut on CBC Television in fall 2011.[8][9]

He also provides the voice of Cuddles the comfort doll on the Canadian TV show Puppets Who Kill, aired on The Comedy Network.

Don McKellarMcKellar was a founding member of Toronto’s Augusta Company, along with his future wife Tracy Wright and Daniel Brooks.

McKellar made his first screen appearance in 1989 in Bruce McDonald’s film Roadkill, for which he also wrote the screenplay. McKellar’s work on Roadkill earned him Genie Award nominations for best supporting actor and best screenwriter, attracting the attention of many in Canada. Roadkill also won the Toronto-City tv Award for best Canadian feature.

McKellar collaborated again with McDonald for his 1991 film Highway 61, writing the screenplay and playing the starring role as the barber Pokey Jones. Again McKellar’s work solicited wide praise, earning him a second Genie nomination for best screenwriter and a nomination for best actor. McKellar’s most recent collaboration with McDonald spawned the cult classic television series Twitch City, in which McKellar played the starring role of Curtis, a television addict and shut-in.

Since his entry into Canadian cinema, McKellar has also been involved in numerous projects. He appeared in Atom Egoyan’s films The Adjuster (1991) and Exotica (1994), the latter of which earned him the Genie for best supporting actor. McKellar collaborated with François Girard, authoring the screenplays for his films Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould (1992), and the Academy Award winning (Best Original Score) The Red Violin (1998), in which McKellar starred alongside Samuel L. Jackson. He also appeared alongside Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh in David Cronenberg’s 1999 film eXistenZ.

McKellar has emerged as a filmmaker in his own right; his directorial debut, Last Night (1998), garnered impressive critical acclaim, winning the Prix de la Jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival and the Claude Jutra Award at the Genies. In 2001 he played the role of Oliver Tapscrew in the TV children’s drama series I Was a Rat, whilst in 2004, his second film, Childstar, opened at the Toronto International Film Festival to enthusiastic reviews.

McKellar also starred in the animated sitcom Odd Job Jack as the titular hero, Jack Ryder, which ran for four seasons between 2004 and 2007 on The Comedy Network.

McKellar has appeared in all three seasons of television’s Slings & Arrows, as Darren Nichols, a theatre director. The show is co-written by Bob Martin, who collaborated with McKellar on the musical The Drowsy Chaperone. Martin and McKellar also co-created the Canadian television sitcom Michael, Tuesdays and Thursdays, scheduled to debut on CBC Television in fall 2011.

In 2006, he appeared in Ken Finkleman’s miniseries At The Hotel. In June 2006 he won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical for The Drowsy Chaperone. He received a Gemini Award nomination for his role as socialist politician Clarence Fines in Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story.

McKellar hosted the CBC Radio One series High Definition. He co-starred in and wrote the 2008 screen adaptation of José Saramago’s 1995 novel Blindness.

In 2016, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada “for his contributions to Canadian culture as an actor, writer and director”.

Luke FredericksLuke’s directing credits include BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL at Southwark Playhouse, CAROUSEL at Arcola Theatre (nominated for four 2014 Off West End Awards and nine 2014 Broadwayworld.com Awards), THE REVENGE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES! at Hoxton Hall (nominated for Best Musical Production 2013 Off West End Awards), JEKYLL AND HYDE at the Union Theatre (listed in The Stage highlights of 2012), Timberlake Wertenbaker’s ASH GIRL (Northbrook Theatre), A SERVANT TO TWO MASTERS (OnO Theatre – UK tour), as well as adapting and directing a promenade production of ALICE IN WONDERLAND for children.

Luke has been involved with the development of new writing, including ONE WAY TICKET at St James Studio and Double Click at Hope Theatre (finalist in MUSICAL BOX new writing festival).

Luke formed Morphic Graffiti in 2011 with Stewart Charlesworth, working as a Director/Designer team and Co-producing productions together. They received the Stage One Bursary for New Producers in 2012 and 2013. They have also created Morphic Education that runs alongside Morphic Graffiti, offering theatre based workshops and educational events.

Luke has also worked extensively as a professional performer, having trained as an Actor Musician at Rose Bruford College.

Previous theatre performance credits include: Ruth in Pirates of Penzance (UK Tour), Buttercup in HMS Pinafore (UK Tour), Mary Sunshine in Chicago (The Adelphi & International Tour), The Fairy Queen in Iolanthe (Wilton’s Music Hall, London), Avrahm (Understudy & played Motel) in Fiddler on the Roof (UK Tour), Soloist in The Thursford Christmas Spectacular, Frederick in Pirates of Penzance (Golden Hinde), Josephine, Cousin Hebe and Buttercup in HMS Pinafore (Union Theatre). Production shows at various theatres, on tour in Cyprus and in a large tent in the middle of a Safari Park! Alex also has extensive experience as a cabaret artist and has performed all over Europe including celebrity parties, guest work on cruise ships and singing for HM The Queen. As a session singer he has toured the UK with various pop and rock acts as well as recording voice tuition CDs, concept recordings for new Musical Theatre pieces and even an art installation in Berlin! Alex’s solo album, ‘My Other Voice’, is available via iTunes.

Composer: The Diary of Anne Frank (Broadway Studio) along with numerous comedy and production numbers for The Spa, Bridlington.

Alex also works as a vocal coach and is currently an Associate of The Voice College (www.thevoicecollege.org) and is Arranger/Artistic Director for Coastal Voices, a contemporary choir based on the Yorkshire coast.

For further information, you can follow Alex on Twitter (@alexweatherhill), via his page on Facebook, or check out: www.alexweatherhill.co.uk

Robert´s talents as a teacher have been employed by stage schools in UK, Ireland, Dubai and Italy. His choreography has included Oliver, Our House, Sussical, Coca Cola Olympic Torch and Fame.

As a professional performer Robert has appeared in Our House, Chicago, Piates of Penzance, Cats, Fame, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, Peter Pan, Jack and the Beanstalk, Best Foot Forward, Look Before You Leap, Life in the Fast Lane, and TV shows — It´s Now or Never, Saturday Night Fever, ISTD, Go For It.

On top of all this Robert was Irish National Gymnastics Champion for 3 years running!

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Institute of the Arts Barcelona:Founded in 2013, the Institute of the Arts Barcelona is a dynamic institute uniquely positioned to offer international performing and recording arts higher education in Europe. Students from all over the world benefit from our top-level professional teaching staff and UK university validated education in a stunning location on the shores of the Mediterranean. Their rigorous, interdisciplinary and transformative programmes are specially designed to provide an intensive and well-rounded vocational education. They offer 1-year Foundation Certificates, 3 year BA (Hons) and 1 year MA Degrees in a variety of performing and recording arts disciplines.http://www.iabarcelona.com

About the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre DegreeThe BA (Hons) Programme in Musical Theatre is designed for individuals who wish to undergo a highly vocational and professional training and education for a career in musical theatre.

The programme is designed for individuals with passion, creativity, imagination and a real commitment to gaining and sustaining a lasting career as a musical theatre performer. The programme provides performers with the opportunity to develop as a creative artist able to work and thrive in multiple contexts and environments.

The Musical Theatre programme aims to create a performer capable of working across a range of acting, dance and musical theatre styles and disciplines. The programme does not dictate a particular approach to performance, but rather, it gives you the opportunity to develop as an independent minded creative practitioner with your own relationship to performance.

There are two routes through the BA Musical Theatre at the IAB, both providing a comprehensive training for musical theatre. The first has a full focus on the triple threat – Acting, Dance and Singing. This route has a substantial dance component and would be suitable for those with a strong background in dance. The second also explores the three component areas of Musical Theatre – Acting, Dance and Singing but with a greater emphasis on Singing and a lesser focus on dance. This programme would suit those with a more limited dance background (dance is still important) or those who would like a more intensive singing training.